County council bosses have come under fire for proposals to draw up a funding pot for winter fuel payments for pensioners, with an opposition councillor insisting the move will give struggling people just £3 each – which he called a "slap in the face".

Essex County Council is proposing to use a funding pot of £1million to support 300,000 pensioners across the county after the Government scrapped the winter fuel payments for all pensioners.

Kerry Smith, Independent county councillor for Basildon Westley Heights, hit out at the plans insisting it'll leave pensioners feeling "bitterly disappointed."

Mr Smith, who is also Basildon Council's cabinet member for housing and property and borough councillor for Nethermayne, said: "At Basildon Council, we have announced a package to help 1,000 households with £100 per household. Essex County Council is copying it and plans to help 300,000 people with funding of £1million. This works out as £3.33 per person before any administration costs.

"The Government has taken away the money from pensioners, and now Essex County Council has got people's hopes up, but these pensioners will be bitterly disappointed. What can you get for £3.33 these days? You can't even get a pint for it. I think it's a slap in the face for older people. I think people will be left with their mouths open and feeling this is a wind-up; how is that going to help?

"You do not have to be Carol Vorderman to work it out; they haven't taken into account the administration fees and costs. The county council is utterly crackers."

Louise McKinlay, deputy leader and cabinet member for communities, economic growth and prosperity at Essex County Council, said: "Following the callous decision by the government to cut the winter fuel allowance to over 300,000 pensioners in Essex, at a time when winter is just around the corner, Essex County Council is stepping in via the household support fund to provide support to our most vulnerable pensioners in the county.

"This is not designed to replace the universal service that was cut by the government, but to help those most in need. It sits alongside a suite of other help we have made available, including community supermarket funding, winter warmth schemes across our library estate, and information and advice services to help ensure those eligible for pension credit are claiming what they are entitled to."

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